Pet Talk: True friends will respect your pets

Rene Knapp's pet column advises you to dump that boyfriend if he's mean to your pet(s).

Rene Knapp

Who is the smartest person you know to help you choose a new partner? It's probably your companion animal.

You see, making wise choices in friends and life partners is one of the most important things we do in order to live happy, fulfilled lives. If we love animals, or are drawn to a particular kind of pet, we certainly want our friends and partners to also love (or at least like) our choice of pet and learn to live in harmony together.

When someone you bring into your life demeans your choice of pet, unkindly shoves a pet away or, worse, is cruel to your companion animal, you really need to sit back and reconsider keeping this person in your life. A kind and good person would never harm any animal, let alone your faithful dog or cat.

There are also the new partners who insist you get rid of your animal. I cannot believe how many women tell me the new boyfriend does not like the cat and they need to find it a new home.

My reply is always the same — get a new boyfriend. Any man who would ask you to get rid of your cat has control issues, and making you get rid of the cat is only the beginning. He will never allow you to make your own decisions if you give up an animal that you supposedly love just because he tells you to.
If he tells you he will leave you if you keep the cat, good riddance to him.

Then there are those who are even worse because they never demand you get rid of the animal — they just abuse them and enjoy being cruel.

Obviously this is a red flag this person has some serious problems, and you need to get out of the relationship fast. Any person who lives with or is dating someone who would hit or kick an animal, or leave it outside in the heat or cold without adequate shelter, food or water, is not worth your time and effort to retain a relationship.

For goodness’ sake, studies show animal abuse is the first step toward spousal or child abuse.

You need to really decide if this is a chance worth taking. Most people who cannot control their temper around a helpless animal, probably cannot control their temper when their spouse or friend irritates them.

Personally, I would much rather be alone with my animals than any man who might hurt them.

Some people were not fortunate enough to grow up with pets, but that doesn’t mean they don’t like them.

My husband had a good childhood, but he never had a cat. Then he met me and my children, and I introduced him to the joys of feline companionship. He fell in love with the cat, the kids and — then — me. His love for our pets just makes me love him even more.

Owning and loving pets is also very important for raising children to be patient and responsible. It teaches them unconditional love, because no one loves you like your dog or cat. Being a good pet owner and handing that down to your children is a sure way of helping rid the world of those people who would hurt an animal.

There are so many cases in which animals have been seriously harmed or killed by partners (again, mostly men) because they are angry with their girlfriend or wife and want to cause them emotional pain.

You need to be very cautious when choosing that new partner — and if there is any evidence of abuse toward your pet, you need to get rid of the partner, not the pet.

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